Embedded One-Click Checkout for Universal Account Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current guest checkout process in e-commerce is cumbersome for customers, requiring them to re-enter payment and shipping information for each order, which discourages account creation and increases friction and computational resources for merchants.
Innovation Solution
A transaction processing system that automatically converts guest checkouts into one-click checkouts by identifying payment information associated with user identifying information, allowing customers to create a universal logged-in account for seamless transactions across multiple merchants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If customers create merchant-specific accounts to store purchase information and access order history, then expedited re-ordering and subsequent ordering are improved, but the burden of remembering additional account names and passwords increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal account system that works across multiple merchants through embedded one-click checkout. Customers create a single account that stores their information once, and this account is then recognized by multiple merchants participating in the system, eliminating the need to create separate accounts for each merchant while still enabling expedited re-ordering functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the embedded one-click checkout system) that mediates between the customer's universal account and multiple merchant systems. This intermediary enables information sharing and account recognition across different merchants without requiring direct integration between each merchant and every customer account.
2Ease of operation
If customers make purchases as guests without creating accounts, then the burden of account management is reduced, but shipping and payment information must be re-entered for each order
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having customers enter their shipping and payment information once during the embedded one-click checkout process. This information is then stored and automatically retrieved for subsequent purchases, eliminating the need to re-enter it for each order while maintaining the simplicity of guest checkout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically retrieving and populating customer information from stored data when a customer uses embedded one-click checkout at participating merchants. The system autonomously handles information retrieval and form population without requiring customer input, reducing both time and effort for subsequent purchases.
3Loss of information
If merchants ask customers to create accounts, then customer identification across purchases is improved, but customers may decide against making purchases due to the added friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by offering a middle ground between full guest checkout and full account creation. The embedded one-click checkout requires minimal customer input (partial action) while still enabling customer identification and information storage, thus maintaining sales conversion by reducing friction while achieving the goal of customer identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of account creation by transforming it from a complex multi-step process into a simple embedded one-click operation. This parameter change reduces the friction of account creation while maintaining the benefits of customer identification, thereby preserving sales conversion rates.
4Ease of operation
If merchants allocate computational resources to accommodate return customers re-entering information, then user interface features are maintained, but additional computational resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a universal copy of customer information that can be shared across multiple merchants. Instead of each merchant system independently handling account creation and information storage (which consumes computational resources), the system creates a single copy of customer information that is efficiently shared and retrieved across the network of participating merchants.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving user identifying information in association with a checkout request for an order. The method includes determining that a user account with a transaction processing system associated with the user identifying information does not exist in a database associated with the transaction processing system. The method includes, subsequent to determining that the user account associated with the user identifying information does not exist, receiving payment information for the order from the user. The method includes concurrently receiving an order confirmation and authorization to create a new account with the transaction processing system corresponding to the user identifying information. The method includes facilitating authorization for the order. The method includes storing the received payment information in association with the user identifying information in the database.